Season 8, Episode 7 Alice du Parcq & The Philosophy of Perfume (her NEW BOOK!)

Season 8, Episode 7 Alice du Parcq & The Philosophy of Perfume (her

NEW BOOK!)

This week we welcome back dear perfume pal and friend of the pod (star of two

previous episodes), the multi-award-winning fragrance writer, presenter, content

creator and now AUTHOR, Alice du Parcq!

Alice has always been ‘on a mission to decode perfume in a fun, relatable and

objective way.’ Now, added to her perfumed portfolio will be an incredibly gift-

able (to self or scent-loving friends) book, created in collaboration with none

other than The British Library, called The Philosophy of Perfume. Out in October,

we cannot WAIT to read it, and in this episode, Alice gives us a sneak peek at

what you expect to find inside, plus the entire story of how the book came to be,

and why she burst into tears in a library.

We’ve even managed to wangle a must-sniff list of perfumes Alice has been

wowed by so far this year (not in the book, just a little scented extra to get you

scurrying to smell them). We loved this warm, emotive, wide-ranging

conversation and, as ever, could have talked to Alice for hours longer, and we so

hope you enjoy this deep dive into one of the most hotly anticipated books for

some time...

Some context about the British Library and this collection:

‘The British Library has an in-house publishing division, and they have an

established collection of around 18 books called "The Philosophy Of...". It's a

family of small giftable books that cover fun and whimsical lifestyle topics, such

The Philosophy of Cheese, The Philosophy of Christmas of Gin, of

Tattoos and of Houseplants, where an expert in that specific field dives into the

origins and evolution of that subject. In January, I was invited to do The

Philosophy of Perfume and it will sit within this collection but as a slightly

longer and more standout format. It's out in October, in time for the gifting

season, and the RRP is £12.99.’

About the book:

‘The Philosophy of Perfume is a fun, warm, thoughtful and practical book all

about fragrance, which looks at its origins and how it's made, how we smell and

how best to shop for perfume. It is an adventure into the facts, folklore and

fantasies surrounding perfume, delving into how it has evolved through the eras

and decades as an artform, reflecting our cultural patterns through history. In

the book, you'llmeet perfumers who share insights into their fascinating creative

process; you'll learn the science behind how we smell and the wild emotional

voyage from smell to soul! There are tales of scented superstitions, and the

literary and historical figures who inspire perfume, plus the ways in which AI is

impacting the future of fragrance and a helpful guide on how to shop for

perfume and find The One(s!).

It was so important to me that this book was not for perfume experts, but for

fragrance lovers of all ages who want a moment of enchantment laced with

interesting facts, a sprinkle of science and some practical guidance when on their

next scent shopping safari.’

Can’t wait until October? You can see Alice talking live, interviewed by the

wonderful Amanda Carr (founder of Barnes Fragrance Fair @barnesfragrancefair)

at the Barnes Bookfest sat 26 th September at 6pm, and get tickets and more

info here: https://barnesbookfest.org/

Fragrances Alice has adored so far this year:

Pia Long’s Olfiction Iconic (by name and nature! An utterly staggering vision of

1980s department stores, expensive makeup and body creams – nostalgia

personified)

Botega Venetta’s new Ulta collection (especially Bare Morning which Alice

feels is the longest-lasting most comforting powdery scent she’s smelled for

years)

Hellenist (all of them basically – a stunning house Suzy first saw at Pitti

Fragranze, and which we all very much hope will be available in U.K. soon)

Neal’s Yard Remedies Mood Awakening Collection (Alice loved how true

these felt to the brand’s ethos, and how they slotted so perfectly into their most

beloved collections)

Ode Ona (all of them, again – an exquisitely crafted and curated collection, all

worth exploring)